Keeping Your Bone Healthy

Contrary to what many people believe, our bones not only provide the structural framework of our body.  Our skeletal system has several important functions aside from providing framework and protection.  The bones help in the process of hematopoiesis in which the formation of blood cells takes place. It is also inside the bones that the body stores its minerals.  Knowing these things should be enough for an individual to get rid of the old belief that we only need calcium to keep our bones healthy.  Since the bone serves several important functions, one must also employ several ways in order to keep his bone at its optimal health. Some of these ways must include the following:

Make sure to include mineral-rich foods in your daily diet.

The human bones consist of calcium, potassium, zinc, silica and other trace elements.  Therefore, a calcium supplement is not the only thing that is needed by your bones. Your daily diet must include foods that are rich in minerals. Examples of these foods include green leafy vegetables, nuts, salmon, whole grain, etc. The mineral content of these foods are crucial for bone development and bone density.

Stick to your exercise regimen.

An exercise regimen helps strengthen your bones.  The more you get your body moving, the more that your bones will work to make it flexible and stronger.  However, if you will be sitting mostly for several hours in a day your bone will stop working towards strengthening it.  This is because your body will not feel the need to produce stronger bones.  Make sure to incorporate simple exercises to your daily routine.  Please note that you do not have to go for weightlifting exercises at the gym in order to make your bones healthy. Even walking, jogging and other weight bearing exercises would be enough to keep your bones healthy.

Moreover, you should not forget to do some stretching exercises prior to walking or doing your regular exercise routine. Stretching will help prevent the gradual shortening of your tendons, ligaments and muscles.  Lack of stretching exercises can lead to the development of bone spur which usually occurs to people with arthritis.

Get enough of Vitamin D.

Sunlight can be your good source of Vitamin D.  Expose yourself to the rays of the sun in the morning when its heat does not burn your skin.  Vitamin D helps your body to better absorb that calcium content from the foods that you eat. However, if the weather does not allow you to be exposed to sunlight you can just eat salmon or sardines.  These foods are natural sources of vitamin D. 

Mineral-rich broths must be part of your diet plan.

Broths that contain simmered bones mixed with vegetables will serve as your great source of calcium and other essential minerals for your bones. In fact, a lot of countries in Asia consider these broths their main source of minerals for maintaining the health of their bones. These broths can be quite time consuming when prepared and cook.  However, sipping this broth may provide benefits that no other food recipes can.

Eat omega-3 rich foods.

Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent bone loss. Mackerel, halibut, tuna, and trout are few examples of Omega-3 rich foods.  Studies have proven that Omega 3 fatty acids help strengthen bone tissues. This is the reason why those who love to eat omega 3 rich foods have higher bone mineral density. Omega 3 has also been known to contribute to better blood profile of a person’s bone health.

Avoid too much exposure to stress.

Stress and anxiety is an inevitable part of modern living.  Unfortunately, stress and anxiety have been known to elevate the individual’s cortisol levels in the blood.  If these levels of cortisol are being kept at a high level over a long period of time it can cause the weakening of one’s bone matrix.  This is the reason why it is important for people to find ways to reduce their daily stress.  And, if the symptoms of anxiety and stress have afflicted them they should avoid taking corticosteroid medications.  These kinds of drugs can indeed put the overall health of your bones at risk.  In fact, corticosteroid drugs are some of the common causes of osteoporosis.

Our bones definitely need more than just calcium to keep it healthy.  Follow the abovementioned tips and be able to live with healthier bones.  Of course, healthier bones mean healthier life.

Ryan Rivera used to suffer from anxiety attacks for seven years.  He now advocates healthy living as the best weapon against anxiety and stress.  You can read more of his writings at Calm Clinic. 

Read More

Low Fat is not always healthy

Low fat foods have been advertised for a good decade now as being effective for allowing overweight people to begin ridding their bodies of fat tissue. This could not be further from the truth as there is nothing healthy about these foods. Low fat foods are filled with sugar and are more likely to cause weight gain than weight loss . Yet millions of people continue to buy them because they honestly believe these foods are healthy.

For those who are not well versed on the subject of nutrition it would at first seem logical that consuming low fat foods would indeed be effective for weight loss . This because it would be much more healthy not to mention easier to lose weight by consuming diet to lose weight with the majority of the fat removed. Unfortunately this is not the case as the makers of low fat foods replace the removed fat with carbohydrates (sugar) in order to make the foods reasonably flavorful. Therefore those who eat these foods are consuming an excessive amount of carbohydrates in the form of pure sugar which in no way, shape or form could be considered healthy.

The most popular low fat foods include items such as pies, cakes, cookies, potato chips, ice cream, frozen yogurt and countless other desserts and pastries. Unbelievably the makers of these items have the nerve to put stickers on them which say "healthy" in big letters. It is hard to say whether people are simply ignorant on the subject of nutrition or just want to believe what they are being told which is that low fat, sugar filled junk foods are good dietary choices. Either way these foods continue to be purchased and consumed in large numbers yet as a nation we are less healthy today than ever before.

One of the most important dietary facts to remember is that excess carbohydrates get stored in the body as fat tissue and low fat foods are overflowing with excess carbohydrates. Nobody should be gullible enough to believe that pies, cakes, cookies, potato chips, ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc. are healthy foods that promote weight loss just because the fat has been removed. Meaning these low fat foods are still the pies, cakes, cookies, potato chips, ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc that help to make a person fat in the first place.

Foods that are healthy include high quality protein sources, fresh fruits and vegetables and in order to actually burn fat a dieter must consume the greater percentage of his or her calories in the form of protein while keeping carbohydrates to a minimum.

For more information on how to lose weight and stay healthy, you can visit http://eckee.com/category/muscle-fitness/weight-loss/

Read More

Non-Surgical Anti-aging Treatments

People have wanted to thwart the effect of aging for many years. They have tried dieting, exercising, different make-up and surgeries. Some have used strange concoctions from the internet or taken risky and high-priced journeys all over the world looking for the key to youth. Now, those looking for anti-don’t have to go to every corner of the globe or have unsafe or high-priced surgical procedures. If you want to seem to be years younger all you have to do is go to the chemist or a trained practitioner who will have the latest in scientific methods of treatment which will boost the skin and make you feel years younger.

Botox Facial Injections

One of the most fashionable anti-aging products is Botulinum toxin or Botox. Botox is a protein and neurotoxin and is often used to treat crow’s-feet, smoker’s lines, frown lines and other signs of aging. It is quite simple to use, somewhat inexpensive and very effectual. Botox has created a real stir that people all over the world are having Botox parties. People get together and have fun whilst a qualified practitioner administers the groups Botox to the group. At these parties or during a home or office visit Botox injections are given by dentists, dermatologists, and nurses among others. The results can last anywhere between four and eight months. There is little anxiety involved and results can be seen straight away and side effects such as redness and swelling will go in a day or two.

Laser Liposuction 

Laser Liposuction is a great treatment which fights the signs of aging and also of being overweight. A laser is used to make fat cells open up and it goes into a liquid form. The location of the skin being treated has small incisions made and the fat is taken out using thin tubes thin tubes which are connected to the incisions. It is mainly used to treat the stomach, arms, buttocks, neck and thighs. A lot of people  like the treatment because it is fast, mainly pain-less and requires a short recovery time before a patient can get back to their normal routine unlike the invasive established liposuction methods where the recovery is longer and also more dangerous.

Other treatments available

There are many creams and potions which are also used by those looking to get younger looking skin. There are also a variety of treatments which eliminates dead skin and stimulates the tissue just underneath the outer dermis to give a smooth, fresher looking skin. These non-surgical treatments include peels and microneedling. Microneedling is a little roller which has tiny needles on it. This moves over the surface of the face making minuscule punctures into the skin. The punctures stimulate collagen to come to the exterior of the skin as it naturally heals injured skin. Results from this treatment give a younger, even looking face with no surgery involved. Another non-surgical treatment which has gained popularity is having facial filler treatment which works to fill out any lines and wrinkles as well as treating a sagging face or acne scars. You can visit a lot of cosmetic surgery practices these days for these kinds of treatments as well as the more traditional cosmetic procedures like face-lifts.

Cat is a freelance writer and writes articles about cosmetic surgery, health, beauty and dentistry. She enjoys cooking and reading.

Read More